Apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw



J. K. TOLES. ERIZING AND FELTING CEREAL STRAW. APPLICATION FILED JULYB,1919.

APPARATUS FOR FIB Patented June 2% 1922.

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WITNESS ((5: 5: (2

A TTORNEYS J. K. TOLES. R FIBERIZING AND FELTING CEREAL STRAW.APPLICATION FILED JULY8, 1919.

APPARATUS F0 Patented June 20, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

JNVENTOR J/T: 75/65 A TTORNE YS .I. K. TOLES. APPARATUS FOR FIBERIZINGAND FELTING CEREAL STRAW- 1,420 16-2 APPLICATION FILED JULYB. I919.

Patented June 20 1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

fk in INVENTOR fl. files A TTORNE YS STATES eerie JUSTIN KAY TOLES, 0FSAN FRANCISCU, CALIFOENIA.

APPARATUS FOR IE'IBEREZING AND FELTING CEREAL STE/AW.

Application filed July a, 1919. Serial No. 309,374.

To all whom, it may concern I Be it known that I, JUSTIN KAY Torus, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the cit and county ofSan Francisco and Stateof alifornia, have invented a new and usefulApparatus for Fiberizin and Felting Cereal Straw, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for fiberizing and felting cerealstraw, such as rice straw. 7

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for making boardsor sheets of fiberized cereal straw.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of my invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made bythe said drawings anddescription, as I may adopt variations of thepreferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figures 1, 1" and 1 are plan views partly in diagrammatical form ofdifferent portions of the apparatus of my invention.

Takentogether they'show a plan View of the entire apparatus. Figures 2,2 and 2 are vertical sectional views taken longitudinally through thecenter of the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 1 and 1 respectively. Figure3 is a detail view on a larger scale of the fluted crushin and drawingrollers shown at the upper right corner of Figure 2. Figure 4 is adetail view on a larger scale of one of the laterally reciprocatingSlashers shown in Figure 2 to the right of the large feed drum.

The complete apparatus of my invention may be divided for purposes ofdescription, in acoordance'with the various steps of the process carriedout, into the following parts or units 1. Intake feed. unit, forcontinuouslyfeed ing material into the apparatus.

2. Continuous cooking unit, in which the straw, which is preferably ricestraw, is fiberized by cooking in an alkaline solution to loosen thegummy substances surrounding the fibers.

3. Drawing and breaking unit, in which the material is macerated and thelong fibers broken up.

a. Waterproofing unit, in which the fibers are washed and agitated andthoroughly impregnated with any suitable waterproofing solution.

5. Fiber drawing and'spreading unit, in which the waterproofed fibersare accumulated in a felted layer upon a screen and lifted from thewaterproofing liquid.

6. Continuous dryer unit, in which the felted layer of fiberizedmaterialis conveyed through a dryer box, to evaporate the excess moisture fromthe material.

7. Softening and trimming unit, in which the dried sheets of fiberizedmaterial are rendered less stifi and inflexible and are trimmed to thedesired width.

The first three of the above units comprise a tank 2 dividedlongitudinally down the center by a partition wall 3 having an opening4: therethrough so that the two sides are in constant communication.Because of the large bulk of the material at. the beginning of theprocess, this portion of the apparatus is preferably in duplicate, thesame process being carried out on each side of the partition. A conveyor6 is arranged to deliver raw stock into the head of the tank where it isfirst seized by the forks 7 of the drum 8 and swept around on the curvedbottom. 9 and thrown between the wire mesh belt carrier 11 arrangedonthe bottom of the tank, and the draper 12 arranged above the bottomcarrier. The lower reach of the draper 12 is arranged below the level ofthe caustic solution in the tank in which the straw is cooked andtherefore the straw is kept submerged as it is carried through thecookin unit between the two conveyors at a speed of 1 to 2 feet perminute, according to the temperature and strength of the cans ticsolution. Steam pipes 13 are disposed in the bottom of the tank to heatthe solution which is referably maintained at about 190 F. he causticstrength is from .5 to 1% b volume according to factors determine by thecondition of the straw.

A pipe 14: is connected into the foot of the tank and a pump 16 drawssolution from that end and delivers it through the header 17 into thehead of the tank so that a constant circulation of the solution ismaintained. Caustic is introduced into the tank in the first instancethrough the valve controlled pipe 18, and water through the valvecontrolled pipe 19, both connected into the header 17. A valvecontrolled 'pipe 21 connected to the pump, discharges into a sump.

After the cooked straw emerges from between the two conveyors, it iscaught by the wooden slat conveyor 23 formed with projecting pins 24,and carried upwardly out second pair, so that the pieces of straw arerial to the reciprocating slashers 48.

not only crushed, but pulled apart or broken into relatively shortlengths. The various moving parts so far referred to are driven by themotor 29 suitably connected as by belts to pulleys arranged on theseveral shafts.

The next two units are arranged in the tank 31 shown in Figures 1? and 2This tank is forthe washing and waterproofing solution, and is providedwith heating pipes 32, and pipe connections 33 and pump 34 similar tothose already described in connection with the preceding tank. Thecrushed and broken fibers emerging from the fluted rollers 28 fall uponthe inclined plate 36 and from thence to the conveyor 37 arranged on thebottom of the tank. As the material is carried along by the conveyor 37,it is worked over and agitated by the forks 38. Each set of forks ismounted on cranks 39 and fulcrumed on the rod 41. The cranks aremountedv in suitable bearings 42 arranged on the sides of the tank andare driven by suitable belt connections with the motor 43. The fibersare washed and freed from any remaining gummy materials, and thoroughlyimpregnated with the waterproofing material during their agitation onthe conveyor 37 and atthe end of the conveyor are caught by theprojecting pins 44 of the feed drum 46, and forced upwardly between thedrum and the perforated plate 47, pressing out much of the liquid anddelivering a loose mat or layer of the mate- The slashers oneof which isshown in side elevation in Figure 4, are reciprocated across the looselymatted material near the surface of the liquid in the tank to break upany lumps of fiber and reduce the material to a homogeneously mattedmass. The slashers are moved by suitable connection to cranks on theshaft 49 connected by appropriate belts and gears to the motor 43;

From the slashers, the matted material passes to. the slatted draper 51where it is worked and pressed to felt it, by the rollers 52. Bothdraper and workers are provided with short teeth, and the workers aregiven a short longitudinal movement in addition to their rotary motion,by rods 53 connected to cranks arranged on the shaft 54. Belts 56 drivenmediately by the motor 43 turn the workers at a somewhat slower speedthan that of the draper. Between the cylindrical workers are arrangedpatter-s, comprising narrow plates 57 having a plurality of pins on thelower surface. These plates are lifted up and pressed down upon thematted material on the draper to facilitate the mat ting process, by therods 58 formed in two pieces with a resilient coupling 59 therebetween.The rods are reciprocated by cranks arranged on the shafts 61 which areturned by belts 62. i

As the material passes upwardly on the inclined draper 51, it is carriedout of and above the level of the liquid in the tank and during theworking of the fibers most of the liquid drains back into the tank. Fromthe draper 51, the material passes over the idler 63 and under theforaminated drum or compression roller 64 onto the screen conveyor 66,upon which it is conveyed through the dryer box 67.

The dryer box comprises a closed casing provided with flexibly mountedrollers 68, between-which the conveyor and its load of matted or feltedfiber enters and leaves the dryer without permitting a. circulation ofair through the dryer casing. Heating coils condenses in drops and whichrun down the sides and drains away. The condensing arch is kept cool bywater circulating behind it in the chamber 72.

As the felted fiber sheet emerges from the dryer, it is substantiallydry and quite stiff. In /order to soften it and impart a greater degreeof flexibility, it is run between rubber faced rollers 73 which by theircrushing action achieve the desired results.

The sheet next passes under the rollers 74 which firmly hold the sheetwhile the adj ustably positioned saws 76 trim it to the desired width.

The conveyor 66 softening rollers and saws are driven by suitable beltand gear connections with a motor 77 i I claim:

1. In an apparatus for fiberizing andfelting cereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means forcrushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, meansfor felt ing the fibers into a sheet, and means for drying the sheet.

2. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felt means for crushing andbreaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, means foraccumulating an even layer of the fibers,

means for working the fibers in the layer to cause them to felt, andmeans for drying'the sheet so formed.

3. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means forcrushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, meansfor washing the fibers, means for felting the fibers into a sheet, andmeans for drying the sheet.

4c. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means forcrushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, meansfor washing and waterproofing the fibers,

means for felting the fibers into a sheet, and

means for drying the sheet.

5. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forcooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers,means for crushing and breaking the fibers, a tank adapted to contain awaterproofing liquid, means for agitating and feeding the fibers throughsaid liquid, means felting the fibers into a sheet, and meansfor dryingthe sheet.

6. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, a tankadapted to hold a quantity of caustic solution, means for conveying thestraw through said solution submerged therein, means for crushing andbreaking the fibers of the straw, means for conve ing the straw fromsaid tank to said crushing and breaking means, a second tank adapted tohold a waterproofing liquid, means for agitating and feeding the fibersthrough said liquid to wash them and impregnate them with thewaterproofing material, means for accumulating an even layer of thefiber, means for breaking up lumps of the fiber, means for felting thefiber into a sheet, and means for drying the sheet.

7. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means forcrushing and breaking the fibers into relatively short lengths, meansfor accumulating av layer of fiber, means for breakin up lumps of fiberin said layer, and means or working the fibers to cause them to felt.

8. In an apparatus for fiberizing and feltingcereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means foraccumulating a layer of fiber, reciprocating slashers for breaking uplumps of fiber in said layer, a conveyor for receivingsaid layer, andcylindrical rollers to work the fibers of said layer on said con-. veyorto felt the same into a sheet.

9, In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means foraccumulating a layer of fiber, means for felting the fiber into a sheet,a conveyor for receiving said sheet, a closed casing through which saidconveyor passes, means for heating the inside of said casing, and meansfor condensing the moisture evaporated from the sheet in said casing.

10. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forseparating the gummy substances from the fiber of the straw, means foraccumulating a layer of fiber, means for felting the fiber into a sheet,means for drying said sheet and means for softening said sheet to impartpliability thereto.

11. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forcooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers, atank adapted'to contain liquid, a conveyor for carrying. the fiberthrough said tank and liquid, a plurality of forks arranged above saidconveyor, means for moving said forks to work over and agitate saidfiber, means for accumulating an even layer of the fiber, a conveyor forcarrying said layer out of said liquid, and means for felting the fiberwhile on said conveyor.

12. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, means forcooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from the fibers, atank adapted to contain liquid, a conveyor for carrying the fiberthrough said tank and liquid, a curved foraininated plate in said tank,a drum having pins projecting from the surface thereof arranged torevolve adjacent said late, a

conveyor for receiving the layer of her delivered from between said drumand plate and carrying the same out of said liquid, means for workingthe fiber in said layer on the conveyor to felt the same, meansforsqueezing out liquid from the felted sheet, and means for drying thesheet. 13. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw,means for cooking the straw to separate the gummy substances from thefibers, a plurality of pairs of fluted rollers, means for driving eachsucceeding pair of rollers faster than the preceding pair whereby thestraw fibers are broken into short pieces, means for delivering thecooked straw to the fluted rollers, means for accumulating the maceratedand broken fibers into a homogeneous layer, means for felting the fibersand means for drying the fiber sheet.

14. In an apparatus for fiberiz-ing and felting cereal straw, a tank adated to hold liquid, a conveyor arranged in t e bottom of said tank, asecond conveyor spaced from the first but submerged within said liquid,

means for delivering said straw between said conveyors whereby it iskept submerged within the liquid and carried therethrough, and means forheating the liquid to cook said straw.

15. In an apparatus for fiberizing and felting cereal straw, a tankadapted to hold liquid, a conveyor arranged in the bottom of said tank,a second conveyor spaced from the first but submerged within saidliquid, means for delivering said straw between said conveyors wherebyit is kept submerged within the liquid and carried therethrough, meansfor heating the liquid, means for squeezing the cooked straw arrangedabove the liquid, and a conveyor for carrying the straw from the ends ofthe first two conveyors to said squeezing means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at an Francisco,California, this 27th day of June 1919.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES.

